Let's hear it for the boys. Guinea Pigs do best when living with at least one similar companion, and pets that live without another Guinea pig sometimes become lonely and depressed. These colorful, chore charts will help you keep track of when to feed your fuzz butts, clean their cages, and much more. Its normal to be upset and sad. Now, lets begin at the beginning. The first twenty four hours are when the babies are at greatest risk for being eaten, so remain close during this period. Honestly, I dont feel like its worth the risk. Why Guinea Pigs Are Less Likely To Eat Their Babies? It is perfectly fine to handle your new guinea pigs within the first week. If your sow has eaten her own babies, you may want to consider changing her living conditions. Guinea pigs should be kept indoors. Your guinea pig's individual personality will likely play a big role in this. Watch after your guinea pig while she gives birth. They need to stay with their mother guinea pigs and suck their milk, but they will quickly become active. How Can I Prevent Guinea Pigs From Eating Their Babies? Allowing siblings to breed also poses a risk of dangerous congenital disorders to their offspring. Its easy to achieve in the first two weeks by keeping the whole litter together with their mom, but next week its time to start thinking about separating them. Having your guinea pig give birth to a litter should be an exciting time. Guinea pigs are not capable of "missing". New Plymouth Vet Group. Aggression between two newly introduced guinea pigs is very common and If your guinea pig is finding it hard to deal with the change of a new cage mate, try engaging him in more interaction with you than ever before. Bear in mind this doesnt necessarily mean she is dangerously thin. The average guinea pig litter is 2 to 4 pups. It can be difficult to tell the difference between male and female guinea pigs under three weeks of age. We were stressed out during this time because we did not want to have another unexpected guinea pig pregnancy. The standard litter can range from one to six little pups, with an avg. Do guinea pigs get in heat? Explained by Sharing Culture What is always important is to provide your pet guinea pigs with the best living conditions for the survival of the mother and the babies. 11. As you find a toy for your little fur baby, you might be asking, do guinea pigs like stuffed animals? Watch this video to learn more about guinea pig. This may confirm why male guinea pigs eat baby guinea pigs, Guinea pigs are stressed out during placenta feeding and may eat the babies thinking its the postpartum part, They lack food and energy after their babies are born. At the end of the day we removed the fleece bedding, washed it and replaced it with a fresh fleece liner. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . Preview / Show more . In this article weve answered some frequently asked questions about newborn baby guinea pigs like: Whether you have a surprise guinea pig pregnancy or a planned one, there are a few things you will want to prepare in advance to make sure you are ready when your newborn baby guinea pigs arrive. (2020, May 5). Once they are one to two finger-widths apart, it wont be long untilbirth.. All rights reserved. During our research we learned that there are two possible reasons why: This was one question that had me really worried. You can do a few things to help your guinea pig cope when youre not around. Just keep your little friend with other females only. By the time theyre a month old, baby guinea pigs body shape rather resembles that of a syrian hamster. Like babies of all species, cute baby guinea pigs are tiny and winsome. Do not disturb your guinea pigs when they are sleeping or nursing. ), Guinea pigs can suffer from running lice. This can harm the guinea pigs health, as they may become stressed or depressed. 2 3 cups mostly green, leafy vegetables, Occasional fruit too much sugar can lead to obesity. 4. So as long as the enclosure is secure and the bars are tight, you should be fine. It is okay for you to handle the pups during the nursing period. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute("id","a865a53297bca918d5b51d234266ee3f");document.getElementById("e1b86b387e").setAttribute("id","comment"); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Or at least make it a less dangerous one, for you, the guinea pig mother, and the baby piggies. The guinea pig fathers dont play any role in taking care of the litter, and can do more harm than good (sorry piggie dads!). How To Prevent a New Mother from Eating Her Babies? Theyve learned all the skills they need for independence, and theyre ready to leave the nest. https://www.npvet.co.nz/pets/animal-info-pets/bird-rabbit-turtle-articles/care-pregnant-guinea-pigs/, Guinea lynx :: Reproduction. Yes, guinea pigs miss their owners. The good news is that its unlikely for your pregnant pet to eat her offspring. (And yes, its one of the more gruesome animal interactions in the wild.). Hold him against your chest to help him feel secure and safe. Increase the protein content in your pregnant guinea pigs diet. My first piggy some years ago did a big dance of joy each time I came back home after some days of being away. (What You Need To Know)Continue. Baby guinea pigs are capable of digesting solid food very soon after birth (within hours). Youre gonna want to read this. So, pet parents should be cautious and prepared when dealing with pregnant sows. The earlier and more regularly you handle them, the more likely they are to accept you. When Do Guinea Pigs Stop Growing and How Big Do They Get? (Find Out Now), Can A Father Guinea Pig Be With The Babies? He may also help to nurse the babies. Yes, guinea pigs sometimes eat their babies. For example, they can eat blueberries, strawberries, tangerines, watermelon, passion fruit, melons, bananas, and many more. Newborn Guinea Pigs Pups Care, Feeding, Vaccines, and More - The Big Zoo A female guinea pig usually wont eat a baby guinea pig deliberately. How To Stop Guinea Pigs Chewing On Cage Bars, Baby Chicken What To Expect From Egg To 8 Weeks Old, Effects of early environment on field CA2 pyramidal neurons in the guinea-pig, Cardiovascular and renal disease in the adolescent guinea pig after chronic placental insufficiency, The effect of maternal undernutrition on the growth and development of the guinea pig placenta, Chronic maternal feed restriction impairs growth but increases adiposity of the fetal guinea pig, Guineapig Vocalizations: Their Structure, Causation and Function, Attachment and Separation Distress in the Infant Guinea Pig, An ecologically relevant guinea pig model of fetal behavior, Auditory spatial responses of young guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) during and after ear blocking, The Effects of Diet on Anatomy, Physiology and Health in the Guinea Pig, Guinea Pig and Chinchilla Care and Husbandry. Guinea pig babies are called "pups" when they are born and are birthed into litters. Baby guinea pigs are much smaller than their parents, so they can escape from the cage. This can be very misleading especially when it comes to motherhood as many animals eat their offspring in certain circumstances. The best thing you can do is provide adequate and proper nutrition to the new guinea pig mother. A guinea pig baby can show mating behaviors at about three to four weeks of age. Dont separate them from their mother too soon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made by my readers, but it doesn't cost you anything at all. Your Baby Guinea Pig What To Expect And How To Look How long do guinea pig babies stay with mom? Female guinea pigs dont intentionally eat their babies nor do they kill them to eat them. As a whole, guinea pigs do not eat their offspring, but it can happen. Many people believe that male guinea pigs eat their babies as well. However, you should err on the side of caution. Do mother guinea pigs miss their babies when they are given away? Guinea pigs are social animals and do best when kept in pairs or groups. Make sure any seller houses male and female guinea pigs separately, or there could be a chance you'll take home a pregnant female. This is especially true for mammalian animals, who often form strong attachments with their young. Use the tips in this post to understand why piggies eat their babies and to prevent it from happening. Breeding and reproduction of Guinea pigs All other pets Merck veterinary manual. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/guinea-pigs/breeding-and-reproduction-of-guinea-pigs, Care of pregnant Guinea pigs. However, too much calcium is dangerous for an adult guinea pig. Guinea pig pregnancies are dangerous and the mortality rate is high both among guinea pig mothers and babies. Paying lots of brief visits to your litter with mother, and getting them used to gentle handling without worrying them are going to be a vital foundation of good socialization. Do guinea pigs remember their parents? Ive wondered it myself. However, dont keep them in the same cage for long. Pups from small litters are usually bigger than pups from large litters. Following delivery, your guinea pig mama will be exhausted and hungry. Sadly yes, guinea pig mothers do sometimes eat their newborn young. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? (The Surprising Truth) When a guinea pig is malnourished, it means that the guinea pig is not getting enough of the vitamins and nutrients that its body needs. Squeaks, Scales and Tails is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC an affiliate advertising program. When baby guinea pigs grow up the males are called boars and the females are called sows. Home - Guinea Pigs - Do Guinea Pigs Miss Their Owners? Equally, male guinea pigs shouldnt eat their babies because they dont eat meat. The sow needs this time to focus on nursing her living babies, and you need to create an environment that will allow her to do this. And baby guinea pigs are capable of joining in from a very young age. Give herenough food as she needs nourishment, so never have her food bowl empty. If this happens, pop them back in with her, and visit again later. The above is important because it allows the mother to continue feeding and grooming her young. If they are isolated, they may become lonely and sad. Just being near their most preferred people can give guinea pigs a lot of comfort. Guinea Pig Babies Facts - Caring For All Pets If guinea, Read More What Fruits Can Guinea Pigs Eat? Watch carefully for signs of stress or discomfort. The average guinea pig gestation is 59 72 days. We placed an additional water bottle in the cage so that it was low enough for the babies to reach it. You don't have to be a professional breeder . Do guinea pigs hurt their babies? - Your Wisdom Tips Under normal circumstances, the sow will give birth and have a healthy litter of pups. Guinea pigs definitely can eat clementines. Im guessing you probably have a lot of questions about guinea pig pregnancies. The same goes for males. And that means that in a mixed litter of boys and girls, its time for the boys to be relocated to a new home, to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Female baby guinea pigs on the other hand have a y-shaped genital opening, set much closer to the anus. The male guinea pig staying with the mother and babies is important because he helps keep them warm and protects them from predators. Although they are able to conceive year-round, springtime is the peak window for baby guineas appearing on the scene. My mission is to teach others useful tips and tricks about these cute creatures. If the mother is experiencing starvation , she may eat her offspring as an ultimate last resort. There is a chance that your sow will only partially eat her offspring, particularly if she killed them by accident. When separated from their parents, they often experience anxiety and depression. (Find Out Now). Why Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? - Clever Pet Owners This was the most surprising thing to me! Witkowska, A. et al, The Effects of Diet on Anatomy, Physiology and Health in the Guinea Pig, Journal of Animal Health and Behavioural Science, 2017. This article has been extensively revised for 2019. Every few hours for the first few days, you should hand-feed the baby guinea pig: mesh pellets or supplement powder, and if you have grown guinea pigs, also add a fecal . Wiki User 2008-10-08 02:35:56 This. Having your guinea pig give birth to a litter should be an exciting time. A pregnant guinea pig requires a lot of extra nutrition. We spent some time coming up with cute guinea pig names for our babies and decided upon the following; Moose, Aspen, Moon and Finn! Newborn Baby Guinea Pig Care - family-medical.net You can also ask your vet for advice and support. It's often the result of starvation, stress, inexperience, or trauma. She is also teaching them how to interact with other guinea pigs. The extra calories should be provided until she stops nursing her newborn babies. Start offering them shredded lettuce from the day their born. Raising an orphaned guinea pig is not very difficult because mothers feed guinea pig pups only a few times per day and then leave them alone. Female guinea pigs (sows) typically mature sexually at 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). Babies grow fast. Newborn guinea pigs have fur and are born with their eyes open. Some times, she shows me her displeasure if I have been away overnight and my neighbors fed her. Although its very uncommon, there is still a possibility that a mother guinea pig will engage in filial cannibalism. She is more likely to eat her babies as she can confuse the placenta and the babies. However, you shouldnt touch the babies right after they are born. Do Guinea Pigs Remember Their Siblings, Names, Owners & More My name is Tim Rhodes and I'm a guinea pig enthusiast through thick and thin. You have entered an incorrect email address! Guinea Pig Facts | Live Science Its better to have a cage that is much larger than a cage that is too small. Guinea pigs are tailless rodents that weigh between 1.5 and 2.5 lbs. How do I know when my guinea pig is ready to give birth? How long before you can handle baby guinea pigs? At six weeks old baby guineas pigs are fully weaned, and have stopped nursing from their mother. Look quickly because guinea pigs are not happy being held this way. Caring for a guinea pig can be challenging if you are unsure whether it is missing its baby. This is why you should do everything in your power to make your female piggy feel at ease. So it is not good practice by caring breeders. Or house her with a neutered male to prevent future pregnancies. If your guinea pig is hanging out near you while . Do everything you can to fulfill the wants and needs of the pregnant female, to make her feel safe and comfortable. B., Auditory spatial responses of young guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) during and after ear blocking, Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1978. CLICK HERE to check the price. New guinea pig breeds are formalised by the American Cavy Breeders Association, who also oversee breed standards and competitions in the United States. Many time, the pup gets killed accidentally and the mother eats it because she has a survival instinct. When they grow up, male guinea pigs are called boars, and females are called sows. Baby guinea pigs are called pups. Certainly not, they only remember their parents for a particular period. Just like with taming older guinea pigs be patient and consistent. How long does it take for guinea pigs to be born? Make sure theres always enough food in your pregnant guinea pigs bowl. 25 Sweet & Silly Guinea Pig Names - wideopenspaces.com This is because, in the wild, guinea pigs are usually found in herds, so you should try to create that level of interaction for your domesticated guinea pigs. Guinea Pigs make excellent pets due to their playful, social nature. Signs of Guinea pig loneliness, depression, and boredom include hair chewing, hiding, refusing to be handled, and general irritability. These small pets need a lot of food and nutrition. However, they can seriously injure them when they recognize that the babies are not theirs, also because they are intimidated and territorial. They are basically saying . When your guinea pig is pregnant they need more food than usual, and its surprisingly easy to give them less than what they need. Just like big farmyard pigs! And all the behaviors theyll need to carry out for themselves instead of having performed for them by mom like grooming will be well established. https://www.guinealynx.info/reproduction.html, I think my Guinea pig might be pregnant, what should I do? Pups from small litters are usually bigger than pups from large litters. Guinea pig cannibalism may occur in extreme cases of starvation. Once the mother gives birth to her babies to the nest, she won't be paying much heed to the nest anymore. Here are some of our top baby guinea pig name lists to help you feel inspired! Whats your experience with newborn baby guinea pigs? If one or two guinea pig pups suddenly vanish from their cage, it doesnt necessarily mean theyve been eaten, especially if its been more than twenty four hours. Briscoe, T.A., et al, Cardiovascular and renal disease in the adolescent guinea pig after chronic placental insufficiency, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2004. This will stop the mother from continuing to feed on them, and it will prevent the risk of diseases through decomposition. Will Your Guinea Pig Eat Her Babies? (What You Need To Know)Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? What Makes Them Do That And How To This a sound that only domesticated guinea pigs do for their adoring pet parents. And if you push very gently, the penis might appear. This is for several reasons: You should find this post helpful: Can A Father Guinea Pig Be With The Babies? They look a little bit awkward as they begin to move around. I thought they would be born helpless and look like baby rats or hamsters with no fur and their eyes closed. When you do approach the a baby guinea pig, be careful to move slowly and gently. After three weeks, baby guinea pigs can be separated from their mother and placed with other guinea pigs or their owner. Do Chickens Get Lonely? In almost all species, males are inherently territorial. She will naturally clean up the area around her: lick the babies clean, bite off the umbilical cord and eat the placenta. But, when a pet parent has makes an intentional choice to breed, its really not worth the risk in most cases. The surprising truth is that it happens more often than youd think. If The Male Doesn't Believe the Babies Are His. mypetguineapig.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Sows sometimes give birth during the night. Yes, guinea pigs sometimes eat their babies. Although they are capable of eating almost immediately, baby guineas do still need to nurse and they will seek milk about every two hours. This is necessary to prevent pregnancy. And of course, when you run a finger over the area, you wont feel a penis! The information on this website should not be take as a substitute for professional advice. They will continue to nurse from mom for somewhere between three and six weeks. Baby guinea pigs typically stay with their mother for about three weeks, but this can vary depending on the situation. When the pregnant guinea pig is about to give birth, the male guinea pig must be separated from her because, within 12 hours after giving birth, she can become pregnant again. Our goal is to make Guinea Pig Den the ultimate resource for learning about your new guinea pig and helpful information before you bring one home as a pet. Also, after delivery, the mother guinea pig can eat babies accidentally, while eating the placenta. If you are just considering the idea of owning guinea pigs, ensure that you already have the capacity to take care of them and also provide them with quality interplay. Yes, guinea pigs do mourn. Want to know more? Any guinea pig lover would approve. The answer to this question is not entirely clear. Explain to them that they have not been replaced or that their babies have replaced your guinea pig. Filial cannibalism is when animals eat their own offspring. Guinea pigs need fresh water daily. The babies shouldn't be separated from their mothers for at least a month. Guinea pigs make eleven different call types. They will understand. Sometimes it happens accidentally. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies if You Touch Them? Normally, they could be 3-6 inches long. Do Guinea Pigs Acknowledge Their Identify? (Easy methods to Train Them) In general, the color of Abyssinian guinea pigs is associated with congenital eye defects and digestive problems. Can Guinea Pigs Eat Turnip Greens? Many living creatures eat other members of their species when necessary for survival. (What You Need To Know), Can Guinea Pigs Eat Clementines? Genetic abnormalities have been reported in guinea pigs, similar to those found in other breeds of animals (such as hip dysplasia in dogs). (And Other Key Terms), How Often Should You Clean a Guinea Pigs Cage? Even though they share similar names, guinea pigs do not belong to either the dog or pig family. Although guinea pigs need the presence of other guinea pigs, attention from human beings is also essential for their well-being. They are able to see, hear and move around once they are born. Lake Shore Veterinary Hospital offers the following helpful advice: If you touch her belly a couple of centimeters ahead of the anus, you will be able to feel that the pelvic bones have spread apart. On the other hand, a male guinea pig eats guinea pig babies when they recognize that the babies are not theirs, also because they are intimidated and territorial. "Wheek" City. And within a few hours nursing should be established. Your guinea pig can definitely use more interplay with the loss of its buddy. Ahhhh, clementines. Bellinger, S. A. et al, An ecologically relevant guinea pig model of fetal behavior, Behavioral Brain Research, 2015. There are, Read More 7 Alarming Reasons Why Guinea Pigs DroolContinue, What fruits can guinea pigs eat? It is fine to carefully handle your new guinea pig pups during their first week, but be sure to allow them plenty of time with their mother as well. Make sure your pig has a lot of food. The gestation period is about 59 to 72 days or about two months. MY GUINEA PIG HAD BABIES - YouTube What Are Common Health Problems in Guinea Pigs? Pet owners know that keeping a guinea pig as a pet is a wonderful experience. On the other hand, female guinea pigs mature sexually at 2 months of age, so make sure to keep them separated from their brothers and father. Baby guinea pig care - The Guinea Pig Manual. Guinea pigs love to communicate. Baby guinea pigs are called pups just like baby dogs. However, both males and females can mature and be fertile even earlier. Some have lengthy, silky hair, and others have brief, tough coats. Once they die, she might eat them. However, in captivity that shouldnt happen at all because responsible pet owners keep them separate from pregnant and lactating sows and their babies. Guinea pigs can eat a lot of different types of fruit. Baby guinea pigs are unique in that they are born with their eyes open! Hi there! If you handle a baby bird in a nest, the mother will often abandon them because she'll sense something isn't right (i.e. Six or seven weeks old is the age at which most breeders will let their pups go to their new homes. Garner-Richardson, V., Guinea Pig Nutrition, The Veterinary Nurse, 2013. For example, guinea pigs are born with their eyes open, and their ears which look huge at the moment can already hear.